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Nouns - 20(951-1000)

Non sequitor (n): non-en-ti-tee
a conclusion that does not follow from the facts statedHad she missed something inportant or was this just a non sequitur?

Nosegay (n): nohz-gey
fragrant bouquet

Nostalgia (n): no-stal-juh
Nostalgia is an affectionate feeling you have for the past, especially for a particularly happy time = homesickness, longing for the pastHe might be influenced by nostalgia for his happy youth

Nostrum (n): nos-truhm
You can refer to ideas or theories about how something should be done as nostrums, especially when you think they are old-fashioned or wrong in some way = questionable remedyIn India, some parties still maintain old social nostrums for poverty alleviation and employment generation

Novice (n): nov-is (955)
A novice is someone who has been doing a job or other activity for only a short time and so is not experienced at it = beginnerI'm a novice at these things, Lieutenant You're the professional

Nuance (n): nir-vah-nuh
A nuance is a small difference in sound, feeling, appearance, or meaningExample sentences in this book help convey the nances of meaning of a word

Numismatist (n): noo-miz-muh-tist, -mis-, nyoo-
Things that are numinous seem holy or spiritual and mysteriousThe numismatist had a splendid collection of antique coins

Oaf (n): ohf
If you refer to someone, especially a man or boy, as an oaf, you think that they are impolite, clumsy, or aggressive = loutHe called the unfortunate waiter a clumsy oafObeisance (n): oh-bey-suhns, oh-bee-
Obeisance to someone or something is great respect shown for them = revenrence, homageWhen he was young and strong, all paid obeisance to him

Obelisk (n): ob-uh-lisk (960)
An obelisk is a tall stone pillar that has been built in honour of a person or an important event

Obituary (n): oh-bich-oo-er-ee
Someone's obituary is an account of their life and character which is printed in a newspaper or broadcast soon after they die = death noticeI read your brother's obituary in the Times of India

Objurgation (n): ob-jer-geyt
a severe rebuke, scolding

Oblation (n): o-bley-shuhn
a gift that is offered to God or a god, or the act of offering the gift

Obloquy (n): ob-luh-kwee (965)
very strong, offensive criticismHe endured years of contempt and obloquy and kept on doing his work

Obsession (n): uhb-sesh-uhn
If you say that someone has an obsession with a person or thing, you think they are spending too much time thinking about them = fixed idea, continued broodingShe would try to forget her obsession with Mohan

Obsidian (n): uhb-sid-ee-uhn
black volcanic rock

Obstetrician (n): ob-sti-trish-uhn
An obstetrician is a doctor who is specially trained to deal with pregnant women and with women who are giving birthFlores was able to take paid family-care time to go to the obstetrician with her

Occident (n): ok-si-duhnt
The WestThe occident is the anti thesis of the Orient

Oculist (n): ok-yuh-list (970)
Physician who specializes in treatment of the eyesI went to an oculist after having some difficulty in seeing distant things

Odium (n): oh-dee-uhm
Odium is the dislike, disapproval, or hatred that people feel for a particular person, usually because of something that the person has done = repugnance, dislikeAs is often the case, the principal odium falls on an innocent party

Offal (n): aw-fuhl
Offal is the internal organs of animals, for example their hearts and livers, when they are cooked and eaten = waste, garbageThey sometimes got incredibly bold in the competition for the fish offal

Offertory (n): aw-fer-tawr-ee
collection of money at religious ceremonyThis is the sense of the offertory as seen from the liturgical texts

Oligarchy (n): ol-i-gahr-kee
An oligarchy is a small group of people who control and run a particular country or organization You can also refer to a country which is governed in this way as an oligarchyAthens was suffering under the rule of an oligarchy that had no concern for the people’s welfare

Ombudsman (n): om-buhdz-muhn (975)
The ombudsman is an independent official who has been appointed to investigate complaints that people make against the government or public organizationsGrievances against public machinery The government has appointed on ombudsman to look into allegations of nepotism in the recent petrol pump appointments

Onomatopoeia (n): on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh
Onomatopoeia refers to the use of words which sound like the noise they refer to `Hiss', `buzz', and `rat-a-tat-tat' are examples of onomatopoeia

Onslaught (n): on-slawt
An onslaught on someone or something is a very violent, forceful attack against them = vicious assaultThe rebels responded to a military onslaught against them by launching a major assault on an army camp

Onus (n): oh-nuhs
If you say that the onus is on someone to do something, you mean it is their duty or responsibility to do it = responsibilityThe onus is on employers to follow health and safety laws

Opiate (n): oh-pee-it
An opiate is a drug that contains opium Opiates are used to reduce pain or to help people to sleep = sedativeIt was Karl Marx who said ‘Religion is the opiate of the masses’

Opportunist (n): op-er-too-niz-uhm (980)
If you describe someone as opportunist, you are critical of them because they take advantage of any situation in order to gain money or power, without considering whether their actions are right or wrongVoters should be cautious of opportunistic politicians who change their ideology every now and then

Opprobrium (n) : uh-proh-bree-uh
Opprobrium is open criticism or disapproval of something that someone has done = censureHis political opinions have attracted the opprobrium of the Left

Opus (n): oh-puhs (985)
You can refer to an artistic work such as a piece of music or writing or a painting as an opus = workFilm critics consider Roza and Bombay as AR Rehman’s magnum opus

Oratorio (n): awr-uh-tawr-ee-oh
An oratorio is a long piece of music with a religious theme which is written for singers and an orchestra

Ordinance (n): awr-dn-uhns
An ordinance is an official rule or order = regulation, decreeIn India, the president can pass ordinances when the Parliament is not in session

Orientation (n): awr-ee-uhn-tey-shuhn
If you talk about the orientation of an organization or country, you are talking about the kinds of aims and interests it has = inclinationThe proposal is open to everyone, irrespective of his or her orientationOrifice (n): awr-uh-fis
An orifice is an opening or hole, especially one in your body such as your mouth = mouthlike opening; small openingAfter a massive heart attack, he was strapped to a bed, with tubes in every orifice

Pacifist (n): pas-uh-fist
A pacifist is someone who believes that violence is wrong and refuses to take part in warsShe was never a pacifist -- “too dynamic and aggressive” - but she always fought for the underdog

Pachyderm (n): pak-i-durm
A thick-skinned animal

Paddock (n): pad-uhk (995)
A paddock is a small field where horses are keptWhen horses are put together in paddocks, they need to be carefully chosen for their mutual compatibility

Paean (n): pee-uhn
A paean is a piece of music, writing, or film that expresses praise, admiration, or happiness = eulogy, song of praise or joyPaeans celebrating the victory filled the air

Palaver (n): puh-lav-er
Palaver is unnecessary fuss and bother about the way something is done = discussion, misleading speech, chatterWe don't want all that palaver, do we?

Palette (n): pal-it
A palette is a flat piece of wood or plastic on which an artist mixes paints

Palimpsest (n): pal-imp-sest
A parchment used for second time after original writing has been erased

Palindrome (n): pal-in-drohm (1000)
A palindrome is a word or a phrase that is the same whether you read it backwards or forwards, for example the word ‘refer’